Finding a flight

There are so many ways to book a flight these days, particularly if you have a computer.

If you want to use your friendly neighborhood Travel Agent I advise checking the prices on line too to make sure he gets you the best fare. Here are a couple of places to look.

http://www.orbitz.com  No special fares but you’ll have an idea of what’s available.

http://www.travelzoo.com   Get on their Email list for specials at noon every Wednesday.

http://www.skyauction.com  An auction house. I’ve used them for flights and hotels.

http://www.martinairusa.com Martinair has the best prices from Miami but to get the best rates book very early. If you can book 5 or 6 months in advance you may find R/T seats for as low as $200. They do not have on-line booking so you’ll have to call their reservation numbers. Hint – you’ll find they are less busy mid week and in the afternoons. Otherwise you may wait 15 minutes to speak to someone. Their service is excellent and I’ve used them for more than twenty years to get to Europe.

Hotel Bookings

Book ahead or get a bargain?

On one of my visits I booked the Holiday Inn, downtown San Jose, on line for $ $95 with breakfast. On the way into town I saw a sign saying that specials are available for $75. On arrival I booked as a “walk-in” and then cancelled my on-line booking. On a ten day stay I saved $200.

Except at the height of the high season there are plenty of rooms available in every class of hotel. Even in the highest season of the year there are still rooms to be had. So don’t panic. You might even book on line for the first night and then look around once you get there. On the other hand if you’re afraid to take a chance you could book for your full stay and then cancel once you find a better deal.

Hotels in San Jose range from the super quality Intercontinental through almost all the names you know like Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn Courtyard, Ramada and Marriott, to independent local places and Bed and Breakfasts. The bigger hotels have pools but the only one I can think of with an indoor pool is the Holiday Inn.

Please see the section “Recommended Hotels and Condo Rentals” at the bottom of this page for some of the places I recommend for quality and price.

Please send me an email for the latest suggestions for San Jose hotels.

ARRIVING AT THE AIRPORT

San Jose Airport is quite small. There are about 10 gates so most of the time things run on time. If you ask for the immigration forms on the aircraft and fill them out in advance it will be much easier for you. You will have to wait in line for Immigration. Usually it takes ten minutes but I once waited about thirty minutes.

After Immigration Control you go down the escalators into the baggage hall where you’ll find your checked luggage. There are carts available free but you can’t take them all the way outside the airport. You then have to place your bags on a conveyor belt that takes them though an X-ray machine. There are customs inspectors waiting on the other side but I have never been stopped. Now you pass the rental car booths. If you booked with one of them stop and check in. Otherwise you go through the doors and across the street is the parking garage. Many taxi drivers will be waiting for you outside. I have used these guys at times but the official taxis, if a little more expensive, are somewhat better. If another rental car agent (than the ones inside) is meeting you he’ll be here with a sign bearing your name. If you have arranged to take a Hotel Shuttle bus the driver will also be here with your name on a sign. Watch your luggage once you leave the airport. There may be a big crowd here and not everybody is totally honest.

The airport is just 15 minutes or so from downtown San Jose. If you need a quick meal there’s a Denny’s right outside the airport. However if you’ve rented a car the driver will probably whisk you off and past Denny’s in no time at all. Even then, all is not lost. If you really want the familiar circumstances of an American restaurant you’ll find another Denny’s on the way into the city after you pick up your car at the remote location. By the way that remote location is really quite close to the airport and there’s no hassle getting in and out.

Finding your way around

Maps and directions

Driving and even walking can be a problem until you get used to it. There are plenty of maps available free of charge. You’ll find several free ones at the airport. The problem is that they have such poor detail. For instance there are several expressways in and around the capital but only half of them can be found on any of the maps.

Street Addresses. Um? Is this a trick question? There are virtually no street addresses in Costa Rica. Sometimes you’ll find a valiant attempt at a start where one house on the block has a street number but it doesn’t help much because none of the others do. Street signs are also sadly lacking.  The key in San Jose is to find one street sign (let’s say) Calle 11) and then count streets (cailles) in odd numbers to find the one you want. You have to count odd numbers because they are numbered that way. The even numbers are on the other side of town. Don’t be discouraged. You’ll get used to this quaint tradition and for now you can ask a friendly local. They’re always happy to help.

Here are some basic maps of downtown on the internet

http://www.maptak.com/cr/sanj/pro-san.html

http://www.costaricamap-online.com/php/map01/map01map.html

http://www.centralamerica.com/cr/maps/csan.htm

The last one gives the best detail of downtown San Jose with every street and avenue marked. As you can see the main street goes east – west and is called Passeo Colon also known as Avenida Central. It runs from Sabana Park all the way to San Pedro but in certain parts it is now a one way street. By the way Sabana Park was, until 1955, the airport for San Jose.

The important thing to notice from the downtown map is that all the Avenidas go east – west and all the calles go from north to south. Please note also that all of the Avenues north of Passeo Colon are even numbered and all the ones south are odd-numbered. And of course all the streets east of Calle Central (the central north south street) have odd numbers while all of those west of Calle Central have even numbers.  It’s difficult to visualize this so I suggest you go right now to the map and study it. Eventually it will all make perfect sense.

Recommended Hotels and Condo Rentals

I have purposely tried many different establishments in order to be able to suggest the best to you. Sorry Kids I haven’t tried the youth hostels. My personal preference is to stay in a condo, which gives me more room and a kitchen in which to do a little cooking now and then. There are also a number of “Aparthotels”. These usually have a small bedroom and living room with an even smaller kitchen and bathroom. Some have breakfast included and some have pools. However quality and amenities vary so I suggest you Email me for the latest information.

Condo availability         

Please Email me for the latest.

Recommended Hotels 

Please Email me as this list is still being worked on.